Russian warship escorts a 9-vessel convoy in the Gulf of Aden

26.01.2011 Pacific Fleet (PF) large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov which is currently deployed off the Horn of Africa escorts a convoy of 9 vessels, reports RIA Novosti referring to a spokesman for Russian Navy.

"At present, the Russian warship is escorting nine civil vessels through dangerous waters. Totally, there are 8 Russian crewmembers on board those ships", said the official.

He underlined that Russian Navy would keep on patrolling the piracy-risky regions. "Ships of all four fleets will carry out maritime security tasks rotationally", said the interviewee.

PF task force which takes part in the international anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden recently escorted the fifth convoy in 2011.

Fifth task force of Pacific Fleet consisting of large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov, ocean-going salvage tug, and tanker Pechenga arrived to the Gulf of Aden from Vladivostok on Dec 22, 2010. Admiral Vinogradov has two deck-based helicopters conducting permanent aerial reconnaissance. All ships of the task force are reinforced with PF marine units; all of them had passed special training prior to the mission.